Greenhouse bench structure



y 9, 1953 H. w. SCHROEDER ,638,715

GREENHOUSE BENCH STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 17, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l Herlvert W Schroeder y 1953 H. w. SCHROEDER GREENHOUSE BENCH STRUCTURE 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1948 www w fHI EHTUP Herbert WSc/zroeder y1953 H. w. SCHROEDER 2,638,715

GREENHOUSE BENCH STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 17, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 [HI E17far Herbent WSc/zraedev Fif 5 Patented May 19, 1953 .UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE GREENHOUSE BENCH STRUCTURE Herbert W. Schroeder, Palatine,Ill.

Application August 17, 1948, Serial No. 44,667

14 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in greenhouse benchstructures and more particularly relates to a structure of this typewherein subsoil irrigation is practiced.

Conventional greenhouse benches consist of elongated wooden ormonolithic concrete trays which must be erected as complete units on thesite; That is, the entire space for the bench unit must be evacuated andthe entire bench is then constructed in the exact location in which itis to be used, the wooden benches being constructed board by board andthe concrete benches being poured in molds erected to support the cementslurry until it has hardened suificiently to remove the mold. Thisobviously takes consider able time and the space in which a bench is being constructed is tied up for the duration of the construction and inthe case of a concrete bench until the same has set sufficiently to beused. In addition considerable auxiliary space is required for theequipment and materials involved in the construction operation.

Monolithic cement greenhouse benches are subject to the disadvantagethat during sterilization with live steam expansion stresses all toofrequently cause bad cracks and breaks resulting in prematuredeterioration and failure, and undesirable leakage, especially wheresubsoil irrigation is practiced.

A further disadvantage inherent in prior greenhouse benches and moreparticularly those in which subsoil irrigation is practiced is thatuneven distributionof the water results in blind areas where the waterdoes not adequately reach and these must be watered by hand from thesurface.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a greenhousebench structure which can be prefabricated and erected at the site ofuse in an extremely short time so that by proper timing a new bench canbe installed between planting periods and the installation completedwithout tying up the space for an unproductive or delaying period.

Another object of the invention is to provide a precast concretegreenhouse bench comprising a novel arrangement of relatively smallsize, easily handled and quickly assembled units.

A further object of the invention is to provide a concrete greenhousebench construction embodying facilities for subsoil irrigation and inwhich excess water is automatically drained and proper moistureconditions will prevail throughout the soil bed. Yet another object ofthe inventionis to pro- 2 vide in a greenhouse bench a novel, efficientsubsoil irrigation system.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a concretegreenhouse bench which is pro: vided with a novel arrangement foravoiding damage from expansion stresses.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a concrete greenhousebench in which small individual sections are readily replaceable.

An additional object of the invention is to pro-. vide a novelgreenhouse bench construction which can be readily disassembled andreassembled at a difierent site as desired.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying twosheet-s of drawings, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective View of a greenhouse benchembodying the features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a connector member used in assemblingthe bottom components of the greenhouse bench;

Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of one of the bottom components ofthe greenhouse bench;

Figure 4 is a transverse enlarged scale sectional view through thegreenhouse bench assembly taken substantially on the line IV-IV of Fig.1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional View taken substantially onthe line VV of Fig. 4;

Figure 6 is an elevational detail view partially broken away and insection and taken substantially as indicated by the line VI--VI of Fig.4;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan sectional detail view taken substantiallyon the line VII-VII of Fig. 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of a slightlymodified form of the invention; and

Figure 9 is a bottom perspective view of a modified connector memberused in the form of Fig. 8.

According to the present invention a novel greenhouse bench is providedcomprising a prefabricated, readily assembled or disassembled cooperative assembly of individual bottom units In, side units it and endunits [2 arranged in the form of an elongated tray within which issupported a suitable planting mixture of any preferred compositionappropriate to the growing of selected varieties of plants, the plantingbed thus provided being omitted from the present drawings since that isleft to the choice of the user and would add nothing to an understandingof the structure involved herein.

To support the bench a more or less conventional carrying framearrangement may be utilized comprising a series of appropriately spacedlegs i3 which may be formed from concrete if desired and which supportlongitudinally extending bars such as conventional wooden two by foursset on edge.

Each of the bottom members iii is preferably formed as a precastconcrete section of a size to be conveniently handled but large enoughand of adequate weight and strength to withstand rigorous usage. To thisend the precast unitary section if; is formed as an elongatedrectangular monolith of reinforced concrete structure, the reinforcementbeing provided by means such as wire mesh i5 (Fig. l). Elongation of theprecast unit or slab iii is transverse to the bench in which it iseventually installed sothat the length of the unit will determine theeventual width of the" bench. Thus, in assembly the bottom units lil'=are placed in abutment at their longitudinal edges; and the total lengthof the bench is determined by the number of units it employed inedgewise abutment. 7

Provisions are made for subsoil irrigation in a uniform practicalmanner. To this end, each of the bottom units it is formed with a pairof preferably identical Water channels or troughs FE disposed to extendtransversely to the respective unit adjacent to the respective oppositeends of the unit. These water trough channels ll arefo'rmed preferablyby providing the slab unit it"witlfa pair of parallel downwardlyprojecting ribs iiiof appropriate width, with the walls thereofpreferably diverging from the bottom of the trough which is preferablyflat substantially as shown. Intermediate the water channel or troughribs id the unit iii is preferably formed with a more 0 less flat slabarch is; Beyond each of the ribs iii and in a plane with the arch I9 isan end flange 28. In assembly, the individual water troughs it arealigned to provide a continuous water trough throughout the length ofthe bench at each side of the bench.

In order to assure thorough uniform distribution of waterthroughout theplanting bed afforded by the bench, means are provided, herein in theform ofa half section drain tile duct 2! in each of the troughs i'i forassuring uniform distributionof water longitudinally throughout each ofthe troughs although supplied at perhaps one or more points to thetroughs as-by means of inlet'hose or pipe 22 which extend from above themaximum elevation of the planting bed down into the'ducts 25 inrespective troughs ll. though shown herein as provided at one end ofeach of the troughs, the inlet pipes or ducts 22 maybe disposed at thelongitudinal center of the duct 21 or at any other point as desired. Thedistribution duct 2! in each instance may comprise an aligned series ofhalves of porous drain tile 23'laid' to arch over the bottom of thetrough i'l in which placed. Through this arrangement, the half-duct 2ikeeps the enclosed portion of the bottom of-the respective water trough.li clear of the superposed planting bed, but water can seep from thehalf-duct into the uncovered portion of the trough, the divergent wallsof which and the depth ofwhich aiford a substantial trough areafor-reception and distribution of the'irrigating water to thesuperjacent subsoil for capillary perrfieation of the entireplant-bed-.- If desired the troughs and even the bench surfaces providedby the arch is and the flanges 26 may be filled and covered with gravelto assure more thorough, rapid and uniform permeation of the subsoilwith the irrigating water. This also promotes drainage of excess water.By reason of the plurality of irrigation troughs ii, every portion ofthe planting bed is superjacent efficiently to subsoil irrigation andrarely will any portion of the planting bed he inadequately providedwith moisture and require surface irrigation. Accordingly, packing ofthe soil surface due to surface watering and consequent necessity forcultivation between plantings is eliminated by use of the presentgreenhouse bench.

Automatic drainage of the bench is provided for. To this end the jointsbetween the bench sections iii are left unsealed throughout their majorextent. Thereby, excess water can drain down through the joints andescape from the bench. Inasmuch as these joints come at regularrelatively close intervals quite adequate drainage is afforded-and therewill never be any danger of excess moisture remaining in the plantingbed;

Sealing of the joints between the aligned irrigation trough ribs I8-against loss of irrigation water is, of course, necessary and this iseffected in the present instance in a novel manner in order not only toeffect a thorough liquid; tight joint seal but also to permit a, certainamountof relative movement between the adjacent bench sections it as mayben'ecessitated by expansion during steam sterilization. This isaccomplished by surface sealing the irrigation trough joints withcaulking compound or asphalt mastic or the like 24 (Fig. 5) andpreferably held in' pla'ce by means such as respective retainers 25'(Figs:- l and 2). Herein the retainers 25 are of substantially boat-likeconfiguration and standardized-as toform. They may be made of anypreferred ma terialbut in a practical construction-comprise appropriatenon-corrosive metal castings or stampings of generally U-shap'e angular"form to fit about the outside surfacesof the adjacent respective ribs 18at the trough joints. In this manner the sealing I'n'e'dium 24' isheldin place about the outer edgeswof the joints and at the same time theretainers 25 Hold thebenchsections it in proper longitudinalalignment:

Further retentionof the sealing material 24 is accomplished'a'ndretentionof the sections Ill against separation longitudinally ofthebench accrues from having the retainers 25 formed with longitudinal edgeflanges 21 adapted to be" received in appropriate transverse channels 28 formed in the outer faces of the ribs is parallel to and" slightlyspaced fromth'e endsof the ribs. The channel grooves 28'are preferablyslightly deeper than the width of'the flanges 2 1- andare' of amplewidth to afford free clearance for re-'- ception of theiflanges ZT-inassembly, the excess space being filled with'the plastic sealingmaterial- 24. Through this arrangement substahtial assembly tolerance isafiorded and substantial clearance and tolerance for'accommodatingexpansion and contraction relative movement between the sections it orthe sections Is and the metallic retainers 25. The flanges 2!- concerning within the grooves 23 hold the sections" 10 against any appreciableseparation longitudinally of the bench. lhis arrangement, it will' b ekapparent from Figs. 1 and 4, in particular; seals merely the jointsbetween the ends of the ribs [8, leaving all of the remainder of thejoints be"- tweefithe bench sections [0'' unsealed and" thus assent Wffi h se i eri uie f earm.wimi e 'e t d n gene a y lb tn e ily t at tobe received in respective 'rooves or channels tf d i 'v tslyihl h therib is" adiacentjto andin starlet? par -1 re: 1 onto the respectiveopposite ends of W e Se 9 1 f the h'e l or; ir eh I in o the benchsections Iii. The; Width of the retainer m mbe'rsand'thus spapiigbetiizeen the ci epenfiing flanges 33* is preferably equal to approxiinately the spacing between the lohg itudi a1 median pianos of thegrooves; andthegrooves at? are preferably at least slightly deeper thanthewi'dth' of the fianges fi fii. I In assembly, the grooves 34 arefilled with plastic Water seal'ingmateriai 35, both in the horizontal orbase portions t me grooves and in: the sideor upwardlyextending'portions of the grooves; Then therespective retainer members32 are pressed downwardly until the flanges 355 are thoroughly embedde iin the plastic sealing material 35 and the body or web portion of therespective retaining member is" substantially in engagement with thejoint portions of the contiguous bench see-eons it" between the adjacentsaiing grooves 3%. water sealed joint between the sect i'ons, permittinga reasonable afnjiount of reiativeshrinkage o'ri expansion movement ofthe parts without breakingthe seal. The retaining anrisealing members 32may easily be pried free when it is desireci' to dismantle the assemblyfor any purpose, The joints betweenthefsections iii, ex

't'wiiere they are seaf ledby the interaction the retaining and.sealingtmenibere 3? anti the sealing 'rnaterjiaififi are referably leftunsealed so as to afford excess moisture drainage i'aciiity.

Theremaining features of the modified greenhouse branch of Figure" 8 arepreferably substantiallj the" same as described in"c onnecti'on withFigure l thesides otthebench being cornplete'd by the sicie wall slabsH, and flanges 19" of the bench sections Iii having the oval shape dsoclgets 30 for receiving the pins by which the sides H are connected. Mv H M i It will, or course, be understood that various details ofconstruction maybe varied through a wide range without] departing; frornthe prim cinies' or this inve tion and" it 'is, therefore; notthepurpose to liini the patent granted hereon otherwisethannecessitatedby the scope of'the ap emiea ciaiinsf Iciaimas fn yinvention: 7

1', in combination in a prefabricated greenhouse" bench structure,bottom members compiising elongated prefabricated sections having atransverse' irrigation tro'ugh there'in, the secti being joinec ltogether in edge toedge relagtion' with the irrigation troughs inalignment to form a continuous'trough, meansproviding sides and ends forthe bench rising ironi'the respective margins I of the bottom sections,a half-duct for x'ne z'i iron realigned loose joihte'dhaif drain tile a9 f 9 1 6 bQ fi ft ou abda'weter' inlet extending up from the' duct'above the maximum planting bed surface to be supportewby the bench. v

2: in cbiiibination in a" greenhouse bench} a series of tansverse1ye1ongate i edgieivise abutting prefiabrica (i bo't'torn sectioaeh o 'which h as a si acedparailel' pairof "subsoil irrigation troughsThis e'ffetsa thoroughly 7 therein a s" with the troughs pr an of theS'e? tions' align d to provide pereu cor1" uoiis sub: soil irrigat ontroughs, mea s for del waterto the troughsirom above the surf ace oi' aM i ta bed to e s p ort hi h (mean ime bottom seokpns, and, meansproviding removable sides upstanding from the margins of the bottomsections, i v i i H 3; in combination-in a greenhouse bench n strucjtiona1 cooperating series of transversely t-i 'e e ee n a u t n re ebi ta' dsections each ofvvhich has a downwardly I'ibj providing an upwardlyopening igation trough transverse thereto and siio oi i with ail of thetroughs of the sections alig d to provide a continuous siibsoiiirrigation trough throughout the length of the bench, and means forsupporting the joined sections. A w

In a greenhousebench construction a bottorn stream comprising a seriesof prefabri} catf';' units oinedtogjether in edge-to-edgere- Ia, n,each" ofthe sections having" a subsoil ifrisation r u h t i oop n w h.ihf troughsof adjacent sections to provide a con-Q tinuous subsoilirrigation trough, and means for sealing the troughjoint hile leavingall of the remainder of the joints between sections free for drainagetherethrough of excess subsoil irrigaticn'moisture. n a I 5. Incombination in a greenhouse bench a bottom structure comprising"prefabricatecisec; ti'ons H joined; edge-to-etige; said sections havingdepending ribs arranged in alignment to provide a continuous anddefining upvl ardiy opening subsoil irrigation troughs which are alignedinto a common trough, and generally u sheeefr retainers connectingadjacent rib joints and having moisture sealing material therein forsealing the rib joints. t H i i i i i 6. In combinationin agreenhousebench construction, edgewise cooperating bottom sectionseachof Whichj has a downwardly extending rib defining an upward openingsubsoil irrigation tro ugh'the ribs being provided adjacent to thegiuncture s thereof with grooves parallel to the 2 sectionprefabricated'siab elongated in form and of rectangular outline, saidslab having a" trans vrse depression forming a subsoil irrigationtrough, the slab extending to opposite sides beyond said trough antiproviding substantial sup porting area and being adapted to be joined'inedge to-edge relation" with ac'ijacentsimilar slabs it the subsoilirrigation troughs; therein in alignmentthe slab having connectorgrooves extenrling parallel to anti'jsjpaced' from the ends of theportion'the reof forming the subsoil irrigation trough; I H H a i a 9.In a prefabrioated greenhouse bench strut ture aconnector' mem er ofsubstantial Width to span across a joint of aligned trough-ribs of apair of" bench "sections and of generally U-shai'i affording drainageslits which, to be sure, are fairly close so as to retain the contentsof planting bed on the bench but are nevertheless effectual for drainageof excess moisture.

The side members M are preferably also of precast concrete constructionand are formed in lengths which can be conveniently handled. As showneach of the side members ll comprises a vertical bar-like structurewhich is preferably slightly thickened toward one edge which in assemblyprovides the bottom edge which will rest upon the outer upper margin ofthe end flanges 20 of contiguous bench sections Hi, the length of theside members ll being shown as equaling three of the sections ill inassembly. The assembled relation of each of the side members with thesupporting bench sections it is preferably such as to facilitate readyassembly and disassembly and in the present instance is shown ascomprising a pin and socket connection, each of the side members llhaving a. spaced series of pins 29 embedded therein and protruding fromthe bottom edge thereof and arranged to be received in respectiveappropriate sockets 30 formed in the margins of the flanges 29. Forexample, there may be one connecting pin for each of the sections it!across which the side member ll extends in assembly. As best seen inFigs. 6 and 7, the sockets 30 are preferably in the form of oval shapedmetal sleeves embedded in and carried by and opening through therespective flanges 20, with the major transverse dimension parallel tothe adjacent end edge of the bench section In so as to afford assemblyand expansion tolerance for the pin and socket assembly longitudinallyof the bench.

By preference the joints between the lower edges of the side members i Iand the contiguous marginal surfaces of the flanges 2% across which theside members extend and upon which they are supported are left unsealed.Moreover the abutting end edges of the side members i l are leftunsealed whereby to supplement the drainage joints afforded between. thebench sections it].

Each end of the finished bench has one of the end members [2 which arealso preferably of precast concrete structure in slab form similar tothe side members H and arranged to be assembled upon the. margin of therespective endmost bench section it, with the ends engaging the vcontiguous end margins of the endmost side members H. In order to closeoff the ends of the irrigation troughs ll, the end member if! ispreferably formed with complementary shaped downwardly extending closureflange portions 3 I. One of the retaining members 25 affords a liquidseal between each of the ribs l8 and the contiguous closure flange 3!similarly as at the joints between the sections [9.

In assembling a greenhouse bench embodying the features of the presentinvention, all that need be done is to erect the frame comprising thelegs l3 and the supporting horizontal parallel frame bars M, with theupper surfaces of the frame bars M as nearly as practicable perfectlyhorizontal, or with any desired predetermined slope in a longitudinaldirection. Thereupon, the predetermined series of bench sections it canbe quickly assembled upon the supporting frame with the connectingmembers 25 at the irrigation trough joints and the supporting frame barsor rails l4 underlying the connecting members. Moisture sealing of theirrigation trough joints is very quickly efiected by merely fllling eachof the substantially boat-shaped retaining members with the sealingcompound 24 in plasticcondition and then assembling the same at theirrigation trough joints and pushing the bench sections In downwardlyinto the retaining members' to cause the sealing material 24 to squeezesealingly into the joint and with the excess squeezing over into thechannels 28. After the base of the bench has been completed, the waterdistributing duct tiles 23 are laid in place to arch over the bottoms ofthe respective irrigation troughs H and provide the water distributinghalf-ducts 2|. Then the bench is completed by lifting into place theside members H and the end members i2. Substrata drainage gravel sand orthe like, and superstrata of soil are then filled into the completedgreenhouse bench or tray and leveled off and tamped and the planting bedthus provided then uniformly irrigated by running water down the inlets22, either before or after planting as preferred. When excess irrigationwater begins to drip from the various drainage joints, supply of watercan be discontinued. A decided advantage of the subsoil irrigationpracticed with the greenhouse bench of the present invention resides inthat while the water is being introduced into the subsoil irrigationsystem no attention is required to the installation but the attendantmay go about other business. From time to time while the bench is in usewater can be introduced in similar fashion as required.

Should it become necessary to disinfect the bench by the usual livesteam disinfecting procsee, that can. be readily accomplished not onlyby the shroud method of enclosing the top of the bench and introducinglive steam onto the surface of the soil bed but also by introducing thesteam into the irrigation ducts 2| by Way of the inlets 2i. Danger ofexpansion stresses damaging any of the components of the bench isminimized by reason of the relatively small units of which thecomponents are comprised. Another desirable factor in this regard isthat the components are relatively loosely assembled, that is they arepermitted a fair range of relative ex pansion and contraction movement,while nevertheless being held together effectually for practicalpurposes.

In the course of change of plantings it may become necessary tocultivate the soil bed and this can be very easily accomplished by meansof a rotary cultivator or tiller directed over the surface since thesoil bed can be of uniform depth, and there are no obstructionsintermediate the sides or ends of the bench.-

In the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9, all features of thegreenhouse bench structure may be the same as in the form which has justbeen described, except that the joint connectors or retainers instead ofbeing applied to the undersides of the bench ribs, are applied insidethe channels provided by th ribs. To this end, precast bench sectionsIii are supported by means such as the legs and longitudinal bars 14 butwith ribs it" of the bench sections directly supported upon the bars 14.In assembling the bench sections iii, they are aligned end to end on thesupporting frame with their adjoining edges close together. The jointsealing between irrigation troughs I7 is effected by means of respectiveconnectors or retainers 32. Each of these retainers may be made ofappropriate noncorrosing or treated metal, plastic material or the likeand comprises a body of generally U- shaped cross-section complementaryto the crossboth longitudinally and transversely, the body of the memberbeing generally complementary in shape to the trough rib joint surfacesand having relatively narrow side flanges toextend into sealing groovesin the trough ribs.

10. In combination in a greenhouse bench, a supporting structure, aseries of prefabricated sections assembled together and supported onsaid supporting structure in mutually cooperative relation with theedges of contiguous sections joining and thereby providing a trayassembly for receiving a plant bed, each of said sections being formedas a precast concrete slab and having respective grooves in its marginsin closely spaced relation to and alongside the joining edges thereof,and generally U-shaped connectors between the joining edges ofcontiguous slabs and having flanges in said grooves.

11. In combination in a greenhouse bench, a supporting structure, aseries of prefabricated sections assembled together and supported onsaid supporting structure in mutually cooperative relation and providinga tray assembly for receiving a plant bed, each of said sections beingformed as a precast concrete slab and having respective grooves in theupper side of the margins thereof in closely spaced relation to thejoining edges of the slabs, and generally U-shaped connectors betweenthe joining edges of contiguous slabs and having flanges in saidgrooves.

12. In combination in a greenhouse bench, a supporting structure, aseries of prefabricated sections assembled together and supported onsaid supporting structure in mutually cooperative relation and providinga tray assembly for receiving a plant bed, each of said sections beingformed as a precast concrete slab and having respective grooves in thelower side of the margins thereof in closely spaced relation to thejoining edges of the slabs, and generally U-shaped connectors betweenthe joining edges of contiguous slabs and having flanges in saidgrooves.

13. In a greenhouse bench structure, a prefabricated bottom sectionmember comprising a body having opposite edges cooperable with the edgesof similar members to provide a greenhouse bench, the central portion ofsaid body between said edges comprising a downwardly opening archdefined at respectively opposite sides by downwardly directed ribs ofsubstantial width providing upwardly opening subsoil irrigation troughsopening through said opposite edges so as to be cooperable with similartroughs of adjoining bottom members to afiord continuous subsoilirrigation troughs along the sides of the resulting greenhouse benchstructure, said body having laterally projecting flanges at the outersides of the troughs therein.

14. In a greenhouse bench structure, a prefabricated bottom sectionmember comprising a body having opposite sides cooperable with the edgesof similar members to provide a greenhouse bench, the central portion ofsaid body between said edges comprising a downwardly opening archdefined at respectively opposite sides by downwardly directed ribs ofsubstantial width providing upwardly opening subsoil irrigation troughsopening through said opposite edges so as to be cooperable with similartroughs of adjoining bottom members to afford continuous subsoilirrigation troughs along the sides of the resulting greenhouse benchstructure.

HERBERT W. SCHROEDER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 784,756 Pult Mar. 14, 1905 923,921 Wise I June 8, 1909 974,685McCaslin Nov. 1, 1910 1,176,306 Levis Mar. 21, 1916 1,983,806 NormanDec. 11, 1934 2,015,924 De Lhorbe Oct. 1, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 504,333 Great Britain Apr. 24, 1939

